Edenbridge Church

( 95 ) EDENBEIDGE CHUECH. BY J. OLDRID SCOTT, P.S.A. THIS fine church consists of a nave with a wide aisle on the south side, a chancel with a large south chapel, a west end tower, a plain brick porch, and a modern vestry. The great age of some portion of the church is shewn by the existence of an early Norman, window in the north wall of the nave; it is very small, and of a kind which could hardly have been built later than 1100; it can be seen outside towards the west end. It is quite probable that parts of the walls of the nave are of the same early age. This original church was considerably enlarged in the thirteenth century. "We find an Early English lancet in the south wall of the aisle, and others in the chapel, shewing that both were added at that time; portions of the east and west responds of the nave arcade are also Early English, as well as the lower part of the tower, so that it seems probable that the original Norman church consisted of a nave and chancel only, and that the church assumed its present form in the thirteenth century. The chancel would appear to have been rebuilt in Early Decorated times, the three windows in the north wall being very pretty examples of that style, while it is known that the east window was of the same age. It existed only a few years since, and had tracery of a peculiar pattern, designed so as to afford space for a large representation of the Crucifixion being introduced in the stained glass. Other great changes were made in the fourteenth century; the tower arch belongs to this time, and the nave arcade was also rebuilt. There is a tradition of the church having once been burnt, and it may be that it was this that led to the arcade being rebuilt within a century of its first erection. 96 EDENBRIDGE CHURCH. I will complete the history of the arcade before going further. If its columns are carefully examined, it will be seen that the upper courses of stone are of a different colour to the lower part, while the courses are deeper. This applies also to the responds. The capitals of the columns as well as their bases are well-marked Decorated work. The western respond has a mutilated capital which is certainly Early English, and it shews the time when the arcade was originally built. The bases of the responds are too much mutilated to form any opinion from, but the small courses of stone used in their half columns have a decidedly early character. As I have said, the arcade was rebuilt early in the fourteenth century, but the explanation of the different stone used in the upper part of the columns and responds is that they were raised some 3 or 4 feet at a later period, the capitals being re-used and the arches reconstructed. This alteration is a part of the great work which was done throughout the church in the fifteenth century, when all the outer walls were raised about 4 feet; the evidences of this are very clear, and the change of masonry may be noticed in many places. The other changes brought about during the fifteenth century were very considerable. Numerous windows were inserted in the north and south walls of the church, as well as the fine east window of the chapel. The arches separating the chancel from the chapel were also built, as well as the one dividing the chapel from the aisle, while the west and south doorways and the west window in the tower were also inserted. The most striking work of the period, however, -was the re-roofing of the entire church. The roofs are very similar throughout, one design being followed with but little change for the nave, chancel, and the south aisle; the only important variation is in the chapel, and it may be that this roof is slightly later than the others. The main timbers of the aisle roof at the east end look as if they had at first abutted against a solid wall, and not against an open arch as at present. Erom this I am inclined to think that the Early English arch between the aisle and the chapel was left EDENBRIDGE CHURCH. 97 for a time after the aisle roof was put on, and that the present arch was built a little later. There is a peculiar slope in the north jamb of this arch which appears to be one side of a squint which once existed in the Early English wall; it aims directly at the high altar in the chancel. We do not know anything of the arch which probably preceded the present one, but it must have been considerably smaller in width. The fifteenth-century builders used what is known as " firestone " in all their work; it is the bottom bed of the chalk, or more strictly the top bed of the green sand, and owing to its being readily obtained and easily worked, it was very extensively used in this part of England. It is an excellent stone inside a building, but has never been able to withstand the weather successfully. Here it was employed for all the late windows, and it has perished so seriously that nearly the whole of them have had to be renewed. The church has suffered grievously from this, and externally has lost much of its interest. The one old Perpendicular window which remains iu the south wall is evidently in a very bad state, and it has been necessary to coat it all over with thin cement or mortar, while the east window of the chapel is only a little better. Happily the early builders, for the most part, used sandstone, and this has stood well. But little more remains to be said. The tower has Early English lancets in the north and south walls, but its west doorway and window are Perpendicular, while the belfry windows belong to the fourteenth century. The enormous buttresses at the western angles must be later additions. No old fittings remain except the font and a late Jacobsean pulpit. The font is Early Decorated, its canopy being Perpendicular, and very pleasing in design. The whole church is interesting, and well worth careful study. The roofs are especially good, as well as the beautiful Decorated windows in the chancel. I wish to call attention to the fine early coffin lids in the tower, which are of Sussex marble, and unusually fine. The two recesses in the south wall of the tower are difficult to VOL. XXI. H 98 EDENBRIDGE CHTJRCH. explain, unless the larger one can be the Easter sepulchre which is mentioned in two old wills. The monuments, which are of much interest, are described in a separate paper. MONUMENTS IN EDENBRIDGE CHURCH, ETC. BY GRANVILLE LEVESON-GOWER, P.S.A. The earliest is the altar-tomb in south aisle of chancel to Thomas Martin, 1458, Richard Martin his son, and Thomasine his wife. Richard Martin's will is dated 30 August 1499, and was proved on 27 September following. He desires that his hody should be buried in the chapel of St. John Baptist in the church of Etonbrigge. " I give to a worthy priest to celebrate in the said church for me, for my wife, for the souls of my parents, for a whole year, ten marks." The coats of arms are much obliterated. Argent, 2 bars gules, the arms of Martin, occur frequently. The next in point of date is the brass to John Seyliard, 1558. He is represented in civilian costume with long rohe and furred edge, and long sleeves, hands raised in praj'er. Shield above the effigy with 12 quarters, shield below with the like, impaling a saltire f usily.* Inscription: " John Selyard, late of Bracested, gentilman; 3 sons and 1 daughter by Alice his wife ; departed this world 1st March 1558, being of the age of lx yeres, whose body resteth here, his soule I trust in heaven, whither God bring us all."f His will is dated 1 Eebruary 1558. He left 40s. to church of Brasted, 20s. to church of Edenbridge. Against south wall of south aisle of chancel is a mural monument of a man in armour kneeling upon a cushion before a desk: William Seilyard of Pawlyns in parish of Brasted, * His wife is called Prankelyn in the pedigrees; no suoh arms are assigned to that family, but "Vert, a saltire fusily or," is given by Papworth to " Pranke." t Pigured in Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, Seoond Series, vol. i., p. 93. Por Pedigree of Seyliard, see Ibid.,.]}. 7, et servient, and Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries, Seoond Sories, vol, ix., pp. 335—342. EDENBRIDGE CHURCH. 99 Esq., who being of the age of 39 years deceased the 21 May 1595. Issue by Dorothie his wife, daughter of William Crowmer of Tunstall, Esq., 6 sons and 2 daughters. Centre shield, arms of Seyliard, quarterly of 12; dexter side, ditto quarterly of 9; sinister ditto, impaling quarterly, 1 and 4, Crowmer; 2 and 3, Squery. He was of Delaware in Brasted parish. His will was proved 10 May 1596. On same wall: " Monument to Nicholas Seyliard of Gabriels, gentleman, 3 son of Nicholas Seyliard of Brasted, who living to the age of 78 yeares—49 years thereof he governed (with great care and integritie and love of all sortes) the worthy Societie of Students of Cliffords Inn, where he died Principall. He left by Sarah his wife, daughter of Richard Potter, Esq., 2 sons and 2 daughters. In true love and honour to his Deerest Parents Robert the Heyre of their Earthly fortune hath this erected. He died May 10, 1625. She Mar. 2, 1611." Arms above inscription, Seylard, quarterly of 12; crest, an eagle displayed azure; on dexter side, arms of Seyliard impaling Potter; on sinister, arms in a lozenge, quarterly, 1 and 4, Potter; 2 and 3, Nizel. His will is dated 19 April 1625. Against east wall of south aisle of chancel an alabaster mural tablet to " Robert Seyliard of Pawlyns in the parish of Brasted, 7th son of Thomas Seilyard, he being of the age of 69 years deceased 15 Jan. 1577. He died a bachelor." Above is a shield of Selyard with 12 quarterings. His will is dated 13 Eebruary 1576. In south-east angle a marble monument. Arms: Argent, a chevron between 6 martlets gules. To Richard Jemett of Shames, a rare example of early piety. Died Dec. 25,1677, get. 19. Black marble slab on floor of south aisle of chancel. Arms of Jemett. To Richard Jemet, as above. Timothea Jemet his sister died Mar. 18, 1680, get. 21. Edward eldest son of John Reddich, citizen of London, deceased Mar. 12, 1677. Next to it, white marble stone with arms of Jemett. To Anne Jemett daughter of Robert Jemett of Skeynes. Died 14 July 1683, set. 23. Below are the following lines: H 2 100 EDENBRIDGE CHURCH. " This faier young Virgin for a Nuptiall Bed More fitt is lodg'd [sad fate] among the dead, Storm'd by rough winds soe falls in all her pride The full blown Rose design'd t'adorne a bride. The blasted Rose its Beauty shant regain, And shall neglected by the Bride remain, This Virgin in Immortall Beauty dres't Shall meet her Bridegroom as a weloom guest." These Jemet memorials were on the floor within the altar rails when Hasted wrote. Against arch of south aisle of chancel. Monument to the memory of Mr. Nicholas Oainsford, gent., late of this parish, died 25 Aug. 1816, set. 43. The following extracts from early wills relate to the church. WILLIAM BELE, 1457.—" To the picture of the Cross in the church vid. To the light of the Blessed Mary iiiia." WILLIAM CRYPS OJ? EDONBRYGE, 1468.—"To be buried in church of S4 Peter and Paul before the crucifix of Edonbrygg. I leave a pound of wax to the sustaining of the light in the chapel of Blessed Mary in the said church." " The Pyttfeld shall be sold and thereof 4 marks shall go to the paving of the church." WILLIAM MOTS, 1473.—" To the maintaining of a light before the most blessed Virgin Mary one cow." SIR WILLIAM TAYLOUR, KNIGHT, 1483 (Lord Mayor of London 1469, his arms and those of the Grocers' Company are carved on a door of the old house in the street).—" To be buried in the high chauncell of Alderniary London, to the work of the body of the parish church, of Edingbregg where I was cristined to the intent that the parishioners there have my soule and the soules of my fader and moder and of Johann, sometyme my wife, recommended to Almighty Ood, £6 13s. 4d." (It would seem by this that some works were going on in the nave.) THOMAS MEDHURST, 1499.—"A candle to burn at the sepulchre and afterwards before the image of Blessed Mary, and I give a candle to burn before the image of the Holy Trinity." ~W : __ If '.' 1 E l T t d Cl.DOOK St;*R MjJfjHtlN TAYLOR HOUSE EDENBRIDGE. EDENBRIDGE CHURCH. 101 That there was an Easter sepulchre in the church is clear from this and from the will of Barnard Creke, 1513, who desires his executor to find yearly a taper before the sepulchre. In the Inventory of Church Ooods, 1510, are enumerated 4 cloths for the sepulchre. RICHARD MARTIN, 1499.—" My body to be buried in the chapel of S' John Baptist in the church of Etonbrigge." There were two chapels in the church, one of the Virgin Mary, the other of St. John Baptist. WILLIAM MEDEHERST, 1502.—"To the making of the new bell 6s 8d." The bells were all recast by Mears in 1816, as appears by the Churchwardens' Accounts, at a cost of £200. JOHN WODGATE, 1523.—"To buy a aulter cloth for the high aulter 3s b%" and Thomas Spacherst, 1524, " To the mending of the cloth before the high altar 3s 4d . " WILLIAM DERKYNHOLE, 1528.—"To the reparacion of the church of Etonbreg which shall be moste behowfuU to the pleasure of God 40s . " THOMAS SELYARD OP BRASTED, 1534.—" A priest to sing in Parish Church of Etonbridge for a quarter of a year, salary 23s. 6d." On the east side of the street, nearly opposite to the " Crown," stand the remains of what was once a fine fifteenth- century house. The approach to it until a few years ago was under an old timber archway, which was unhappily removed when the Oddfellows' Hall was built. The house contains later additions and a good staircase of the sixteenth century. The coats of arms carved in oak in the spandrils of the doorway are: on the dexter side, a chevron between 9 cloves, being the arms of the Grocers' Company; and on the sinister, a fess dancette between 3 eagles displayed, for Taylor. It is satisfactory to identify these as the arms of Sir William Taylor, Knight , son of John Taylor of Eccleston, Staffordshire. He was Sheriff of London in 1454, Lord Mayor in 1469, and a distinguished member of the Grocers' Company. We shall see by his will that he was baptized at Edenbridge, and from his very large bequest towards making the road from Botley Hill (which is in Titsey parish, and 102 EDENBRIDGE CHTJRCH. seven miles distant) to Edenbridge, it is clear that he often had occasion to travel by that road. This was doubtless his "town" house when he came to Edenbridge. The architecture shews that it is about 1460, a date which tallies very well with his will. I t is dated 25 July 1483 : " William Taylour, K4, citizen and grocer, and Alderman and late Lord Mayor of London, being of the age of 77 yeares, full complete, to be buried in the high chauncell of the parish church of our Lady of Aldermary, beside the high alter afore the image there of our blessed Lady.—To the werks of the body of the parish church of Edingbregg where I was cristined, £6 13s. 4d., that the parishioners have my soul recommended to Almighty God.—Item whereas I have begun to make a parte of the high way beside Edinbregg, I will that the same highway like as it runneth from Botlee Hill to Edinbrigg and from Edinbrigg to Hartfeld be performed, though the cost thereof extend unto the summe of £40 or £50." This would probably equal £500 of our money. At Gabriels, formerly a residence of the Seyliard family, is an oak panelled room, originally the hall, with richly carved mantel-piece. The house has a fine staircase and some panelling in the upper rooms. It was at one time moated. :—T^ C A.UVfcD PANE! UN OVER DOtJ I ^•^m^mimmmvmwmmmw mm^Dm •rt.idm11 •>VT'""l"MiHlfP,-'Jtf,,f mtWW i'liMU MiimMf •!• tmnHiiirtlii STAIRCASE • / . DETAILS IN HALL GABRIELS, EDENBRIDGE